Damn those U-boats are still deadly even after they've been sunk, talk about German military efficiency
Veteran diver, 66, dies while exploring wreck of German U-boat that sank on first mission at end of WWII
An 'inspirational' veteran diver has died after getting into difficulty during a deep dive near the wreck of a World War Two German U-boat.
Roger Dadds had completed more than 4,000 dives at home and abroad but disaster struck off the coast of South Devon on Saturday.
Coastguards were told that Mr Dadds had 'shot back up like cork' and had reached the surface 'feet first' and unconscious.
Roger Dadds died after diving near the wreck of a German U-boat off the coast of Salcombe, Devon
The father-of-two was pronounced dead at hospital despite attempts to save him by fellow divers and medical treatment on board a Navy warship.
British Sub-Aqua Club (BS-AC) trip to dive the wreck of U-boat U1063, which was sunk six miles south of Salcombe in April 1945.
The 66-year-old, from Plymouth, was among five others taking part in a trip with the British Sub-Aqua Club to dive near wreck of U-boat U1063, which was sunk six miles south of Salcombe in April 1945.
Mark Prior, who was also on the dive to explore the wreck of a German U-boat, off Salcombe, said Mr Dadds was 'a real diver's diver, a legend in his own dive time'.
He said: 'Hundreds of divers have benefited from Roger's unique story-telling talents and self-deprecating humour.
'He helped and inspired many of his colleagues to become better divers. Everyone who met him, liked him.'
Mr Prior, assistant diving officer at the Plymouth Sound club, said Mr Dadds had abandoned the dive after a few minutes but, still underwater, he was unaware of the seriousness of the situation.
When he surfaced, Mr Dadds was rescued by colleagues aboard the dive boat who immediately alerted Brixham Coastguards.
The emergency call, made at around 1pm on Saturday, was heard by the frigate HMS St Albans which also responded.
The dive was focused on the wreck of a German U-boat which sits on the sea bed six miles off the coast of Salcombe, Devon
A spokesman for Brixham coastguards said: 'HMS St Albans, which was in the area, heard the broadcast and responded straight away.'
'They used the helicopter on board the vessel to locate the dive boat and then launched their fast boat. They recovered the casualty back to the St Albans where they continued to treat him.'
The coastguard helicopter landed on the Portsmouth-based Type 23 frigate, and then flew Mr Dadds to the accident and emergency department at Dorchester Hospital.
He never regained consciousness and was pronounced dead by hospital doctors.
Mr Dadds retired around seven years ago after working at Devonport Dockyard and then at Princess Yachts.
Mr Prior said Mr Dadds was 'well known throughout the diving community from the Scillies to Scapa Flow', having started diving in 1976.
He said: 'He was a mainstay of Plymouth Sound BS-AC diving club. He did many stints as diving officer, organised trips and holidays and was a regular feature on the club's dives out from Plymouth.
'His favourite dive was Eastern Kings Point, where he has done hundreds of dives and knew the site like the back of his hand.
'He did not need asking twice to introduce people to what is one of the best and challenging shore dives in the country.
'Many people will be deeply shocked to hear the news of his death.'
The remains of the U-boat, sunk three weeks before the end of the war, lie in some 60 metres of water and is a well-known dive site.
Diving at such depths requires divers to stop on the way back to the surface to stop decompression sickness, commonly known as the bends.
Coastguards were told that Mr Dadds had "shot back up like cork" and had reached the surface "feet first" and unconscious.
Devon and Cornwall Police are investigating the incident and are preparing a file for coroner's court.
A spokesman for Brixham Coastguards said it was 'rare' for divers to survive such a repaid return to the surface.
'Rescuers were on scene pretty quickly to administer first aid," the coastguard spokesman said. "It is rare, from what I have been told, for divers to survive such a rapid ascent from such a depth.'
U-1063: DOOMED U-BOAT SUNK ON FIRST MISSION
The German submarine U-1063 was sunk on April 15th 1945 just under a year after she was commissioned in July 1944.
In command of the vessel was Kapitänleutnant Karl-Heinz Stephan who was aged just 28 at the time of comissioning.
But the commission appeared to be doomed from the start as during the fitting out of the U-boat a machinist died after falling from the submarine's deck.
The boat was sunk during her first patrol in the English Channel by depth charges from the British frigate HMS Loch Killin - three weeks short of the end of the Second World War.
A total of 29 members of her crew were killed and 17 survived.
The wreck now lies 58 meters down south of Bigbury Bay, Devon in a well known diving site.
Diving at such depths requires divers to stop on the way back to the surface to stop decompression sickness, commonly known as the bends.
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...loring-German-U-boat-wreck.html#ixzz1HwFKvC1W
